In February, Galina’s family fell apart, and now she cannot afford housing for herself and her two minor daughters. The woman wants to move to a cheaper apartment, but to do, so she needs to pay for the current one, make a deposit, the first payment, and cover moving costs.
My name is Galina Rabets. I am from Zhlobin, but now I live in Poland with my two wonderful daughters and a cat.
After the 2020 elections, I could no longer pretend that nothing was happening. I had many acquaintances who were observers, and we began going out to marches. A year later, on July 6, 2021, they came to me immediately with a criminal charge. I was summoned as a witness, but detained and interrogated for eight hours. I was lucky that one kind person in the police told me to get home by any means, contact human rights defenders, and ask for evacuation.
It was Friday, I had no phone or passport with me. I begged the investigator to let me say goodbye to my daughters. He released me until Monday. And on Saturday, the human rights center “Viasna” helped us leave Belarus. I left in what I was wearing: three passports in my hands, two children, and a backpack with T-shirts and socks on my shoulders. First we were taken to Russia, and then BYSOL handled the evacuation and assistance. They also helped after departure – raising money so we could buy clothes and somehow settle in.
Since 2021, we have been living in Poland. We received international protection, and my civil partner and I both got jobs. At the end of February this year, he left the family just as the rent payment was due. We had divided expenses: I received my salary at the beginning of the month, we bought groceries and everything necessary for ourselves and the children, and he covered the housing payment. Now both of my minor daughters are solely my responsibility, and I receive no alimony or other support.
I work in a laundry, drying linens. I try to handle everything myself and would not ask for help otherwise. The problem is that the apartment we live in is too expensive for me alone, and I cannot afford it on my own.
Against this background, I had a nervous breakdown. I lost consciousness at work, and an ambulance took me away. After that, the doctor prescribed antidepressants, sedatives, and sleeping pills. My hands were shaking, I could not sleep properly, and I thought that I might end up on the street with my children.
When my partner and I were both working, we could manage the rent. But now that I am alone, 70% of my salary goes just to rent. The rest goes to food and daily expenses. And now there are also medications. In this situation, we need to find a cheaper apartment and move urgently, but this also requires money: for the deposit, the first payment, and the move itself. Saving anything from my salary right now is simply impossible.
I am sure that I will manage, but right now I have literally fallen to my knees and I need your support to get back up and continue living, raising my daughters.
Fundraising goal
€2490
€1190 – payment for the current apartment
€1300 – deposit, first payment, and moving to a new apartment